Dr. Anthony Lombardi
Science & Tech • Fitness & Health
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Keep it simple especially when talking with patients

"If you can't explain it simply, you don't understand it well enough."
-Albert Einstein

I think it's just human nature to have to complicate things. But when you're in the clinic, that is no time to be an academic or philosopher.

I've always harped on clinical results. Working in the clinic is working in the trenches so to speak. This is where the rubber meets the road. Any flowery ideas of acupuncture or Chinese medicine, all the lovely beautiful concepts and theories, they mean nothing. Results are the only thing that matters - and the treatments behind them. While many think this disparages the "art", what it actually is, is putting the patient first. I will never apologize for putting the patient above ideology that doesn't deliver results, and only serves to comfort one's ego.

I've seen so many peeps brag about what they can do. What they know, how they can "control qi", or the degrees they have. Something is always missing in this bragging though - the patient.

Learning is fun, philosophy is extremely interesting, exploring new idea is important. But in the clinic it's all about keeping it simple.

Likewise, how are you explaining things to your patients? Are you lecturing on the differences between acupuncture and dry needling? Are you over explaining how your treatments are helping them? Have you noticed they glaze over after about 30 seconds?

It's best to keep working on your scripts and saying things very direct. Give the patients what they need - results. We excel in the clinic, delivering the tools we've learned. If we're talking, we're not working (unless you can do both at the same time).

And please, keep it simple!

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January 02, 2026
Where do you start with this?

61 year old male with various changing musculoskeletal complaints: R neck and shoulder pain, sometimes cervical tightness causes numbness and tingling in arms. Bilateral hip pain/tightness which is intermittent, compared to the shoulder pain is more constant, but none of these are severe. Scoliosis in low back, often the L low back and flank hurt more than right.

R leg longer by 1/4”. L2-L5 or S1 very curved. R pelvis juts out compared to L. R shoulder significantly lower than L.

Currently his most acute symptom is tenderness in his L inguinal crease. There was a period of bleeding in urine and semen for 2 weeks that has stopped; he went to the doctor and they ruled out UTI, STD, and hernia. On palpation the edge of the pelvic bowl is a bit tender and the most tender spot subjectively is right over the femoral pulse.

EXSTORE:
Lower extremity: Bilateral psoas, TFL, gluteus medius, gluteus minimus.
Upper extremity: Supraspinatus, serratus

It just feels like a lot and I'm ...

December 30, 2025

Is anyone practicing in area code 23062 - Virginia, or thereabouts? Williamsburg? For a friend with scoliosis and arthritis. thanks in advance.

December 29, 2025
Hip Px and hEDS

Patient: 34-year-old female, currently 15 weeks pregnant.
Diagnosis: Ehlers–Danlos syndrome (diagnosed 2021), hypermobility type (hEDS).

Surgical history: Four right hip surgeries between 2021–2024 for a torn labrum, ultimately requiring a cadaver graft, as well as repair of a femoral head injury. All four procedures have been deemed unsuccessful. In 2022, she also underwent shoulder surgery for a labral tear.

EXSTORE findings: Weakness noted in the L gluteus maximus, R adductor magnus, R hip flexors, L serratus anterior, and supraspinatus.
Current symptoms: Significant discomfort localized to the R greater trochanter, adductors, and hamstrings, with associated low back pain.

Pain management history: Prior to pregnancy, symptoms were managed with Baclofen, which was discontinued during pregnancy and is planned to resume postpartum. She claims she has had relief from DN in the past.

My understanding is that Ehlers–Danlos syndrome is an umbrella term encompassing 13 connective tissue ...

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